Automatic vacuum and pressure release valve



Oct- 25, 1955 F. T. GIER ETAL 2,721,575

AUTOMATIC VACUUM AND PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE Filed July 1v, v1952 25W W n IV ull/Z /6 Y 16 2 2 l 6 2/ 28/ /3 [l 2 8 /0 13 u 21 I3 Y 23 ,252 29 /5 /2/ 2,54 /0 2 29/ /4 /7 ,4, 29 I6 2o I6 /6 IIE 3 ffm .2 ff E. il i glnmur FRANC/5 Z'G/EE.. Fea/VK P. 726/. m Fame/ United States Patent O AUTOMATIC VACUUM AND PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE Francis T. Gier and Frank P. Tagliaferri, Baltimore, Md.,

assignors of one-third to Stanley Hoffman, Baltimore, Md.

Application July 17, 1952, Serial No. 299,458

2 Claims. (Cl. 13T-493.8)

This invention relates to a valve, and more particularly to a valve having an adjustable pressure release and adjustable vacuum breaker, combined in a single structure.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved combined pressure and vacuum valve that will be adjustable to accommodate a plurality of pressure releases.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved combined pressure and vacuum release that will be simple and compact in its construction, economical to construct and effective in operation.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved combination valve, to work on a closed heating system that will be automatic in its operation, and will release pressure built up above a predetermined level and prevent vacuum locks in the system when the heating medium cools.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention and the objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein a particular form of the invention is disclosed by way of example. The drawings when used in conjunction with the following description explain the structure that embodies the principles of the invention which latter is emphasized in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the valve embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, except that it shows the floating valve member in its upper position, when acting as an overload release valve; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, except that it shows the oating member in its lower position, when acting as a vacuum breaker or release valve.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown in the drawings, a cylinder 10, is provided with a bore 11 that forms an upper compartment 12 having an overload release slot 13, and a lower compartment 14 provided with a vacuum release slot 15. External threads 16, are formed at the ends of cylinder 10. The bore 11 is provided at each end with internal threads 17 to receive threaded collars 18 screwed into them when the slot 19 is contacted by a screwdriver and turned in the threads 17. A hole or passage 20 is positioned through the collars 18 to allow the medium to pass therethrough. A floating valve member 21 slides freely inside the bore 11 and is tensioned on opposite sides by an overload spring 28 and vacuum release spring 29. When the valve is in closed position, the oating member 21 is located in the smooth section 22 between the ends 23 and 24 of the slots 13 and 15 respectively (see Figure 2) and prevents the free passage of the medium there- ICC through. When the floating member 21 moves upward it compresses the overload spring 28 (see Figure 3) and the fluid passes through the lower end of the bore 11, until it strikes the floating member 21 and passes up through overload release slot 13 and out the hole 26 in the cap 25 to the atmosphere. When the floating member assumes the position shown in (Figure 4) of the drawings, the Vacuum release spring 29 is compressed and the air is drawn in the hole 26 in cap 25, then through the bore 11, by-passes the floating member 21 and passes through the vacuum release slot 15 down the bore 11 into the device the valve is used with. The amount of overload or vacuum release can be regulated by adjusting the collars 18 to suit the pressure desired or the amount of vacuum needed to prevent a vacuum lock.

A cap 25 provided with a hole 26 is screwed on the upper end of the cylinder 10, and vents the valve to the atmosphere. The threaded lower portion of the cylinder is preferably screwed into any conventional pipe tting 27, or valve cylinder and the fitting may be made as a single unit without deviating from the general scope of this invention.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An overload nad vacuum relief valve comprising a cylinder open at both ends, said cylinder having internally and outwardly threaded portions at both ends, said cylinder also having at one end a rst longitudinal slot in its internal wall extending from a point spaced from, the end of the adjoining threaded portion to a terminal point short of the medial diametral portion of the cylinder, said cylinder having at its other end a second longitudinal slot in its internal wall extending from a point spaced from the end of the adjoining threaded portion to a terminal point short of the medial diametral portion of the cylinder, whereby both of the aforesaid terminal points are spaced axially apart, a cylindrical floating member within the cylinder, said member having a depth to normally close both of the aforesaid terminal points when in centered position, but upon initial movement of the member in either direction said member opens up one of the terminal points while keeping the other one closed and upon full movement of the member it opens up communication between said terminal points and slots, a pair of springs in the cylinder acting oppositely against said iloating member and abutments for said springs enclosed completely within the cylinder and adjustably threadable along the aforementioned internally threaded portions of the cylinder, an apertured cap threaded upon one of said outwardly threaded portions of the cylinder, and a pipe threaded on the other of said outwardly threaded portions of the cylinder.

2. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the abutments for the springs are provided with an outer groove engageable by a screwdriver to rotate said abutments in and out of the internally threaded portions of the cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,707 Swartz Sept. 26, 1899 1,856,996 Heise 1 May 3, 1932 2,184,190 Krauss Dec. 19, 1939 2,338,895 Boulogne Jan. l1, 1944 2,418,634 Hallerstrom Apr. 8, 1947 

